January 09, 2014

CAR: MSF vaccinates 68,000 for measles in Bangui camps

Following confirmation of measles cases among children in several camps for internally displaced people in Bangui, Central African Republic, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is vaccinating 68,000 children in five camps in the city in order to prevent an outbreak.

Hundreds of thousands of people are currently displaced in camps around Bangui as a result of widespread violence that began early December.

MSF has already vaccinated more than 25,000 children in the Don Bosco and Boy Rabe camps and plans to have vaccinated 40,000 children in Mpoko camp and 3,000 in the Saint Michel and Saint Elime camps by Friday, January 10.

All children between six months and 15 years of age are being targeted, which accounts for 40 percent of the total camp population. MSF also screens children under five years old for malnutrition and treats the severe cases. Complicated cases are referred to a specialized center.

“Measles can be a very deadly disease for children and is highly contagious,” said MSF’s vaccination coordinator Tessy Fautsch. “Ten to thirty percent of those children with already-low natural immunity do not survive, unless they are vaccinated. As many of the children in the camps are weak and living in deplorable conditions, we absolutely want to prevent an epidemic, which is why we are carrying out these vaccinations.”

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Following confirmation of measles cases among children in several camps for internally displaced people in Bangui, Central African Republic, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is vaccinating 68,000 children in five camps in the city in order to prevent an outbreak.

Hundreds of thousands of people are currently displaced in camps around Bangui as a result of widespread violence that began early December.

MSF has already vaccinated more than 25,000 children in the Don Bosco and Boy Rabe camps and plans to have vaccinated 40,000 children in Mpoko camp and 3,000 in the Saint Michel and Saint Elime camps by Friday, January 10.

All children between six months and 15 years of age are being targeted, which accounts for 40 percent of the total camp population. MSF also screens children under five years old for malnutrition and treats the severe cases. Complicated cases are referred to a specialized center.

“Measles can be a very deadly disease for children and is highly contagious,” said MSF’s vaccination coordinator Tessy Fautsch. “Ten to thirty percent of those children with already-low natural immunity do not survive, unless they are vaccinated. As many of the children in the camps are weak and living in deplorable conditions, we absolutely want to prevent an epidemic, which is why we are carrying out these vaccinations.”